Roy Davis, the direct disciple of Paramhamsa Yogananda, will talk about a lifestyle that supports spiritual progress in his lecture tour

Roy Davis on Paramahansa Yogananda: `He was strong, gentle, wise and very patient.'

"A SIMPLE (uncomplicated) life will enable you to learn what you need to learn, do what you need or want to do, and accomplish your ultimate purpose... " he says, and we are forced to sit up and listen, for he's here in person  Roy Davis, the direct disciple of Paramhamsa Yogananda and teacher of the famous Kriya Yoga founded by the spiritual master. In a series of lecture sessions, planned across the country, Roy Davis will teach participants how to have a lifestyle that supports spiritual progress. Says Mr. R.K. Jain of Motilal Banarisdass (MLBD), who have published a number of Roy Davis' books and are responsible for planning the sessions, "This is Roy Davis' way to give back to the Indian society because his guru was an Indian and he feels highly indebted." At the request of the preacher, Mr. Jain organised such sessions in 2002 also, and has organised them again this year, given the tremendous response to the previous sessions.

Inspiration

Roy Davis, born in 1931 near Cleveland in Ohio, read Yogananda's spiritual classic, Autobiography of a Yogi, when he was 18 years old. Feeling a strong spiritual connection, he set out to meet the master and was accepted for monastic training, and was asked to begin teaching after two years. Reminiscing about the incident, Roy Davis says: "He was strong, gentle, wise and very patient. His closing remarks to me were - `Read a little (inspirational material) everyday, meditate and think of God'. Two years later, he asked me to teach the Kriya Yoga and I have been doing so since." The Kriya Yoga, which has been practised for centuries in India was taught by Sri Yogananda in the West and thus the interest in it has multiplied. It is a disciplined regulation of mental and sensory impulses, a self-analysis, and a concentrated approach to self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment.

Talk series

Roy Davis's lecture tour begins on January 5 in Mumbai and will conclude on January 25 at Bangalore. His sessions are mostly of two to four hours each at different locations in the city.

A concentrated three-day workshop will also be held at the School of Ancient Wisdom in Devanahalli, inaugurated by the Governor of Karnataka, T.N. Chaturvedi, following which, Roy Davis will impart knowledge of the Kriya Yoga to a select few. His lectures will elaborate on meditation for personal benefits, yoga philosophy, meditation practice and holistic lifestyles. Other cities where the sessions are planned are Delhi, Kolkata and Pune.

MLBD's R.P. Jain, who will travel with Davis, says that many events are scheduled for Bangalore, where Davis got the warmest response last time. Explaining their involvement in Davis tours, R.P. Jain says: "We have published 15 of his books and this seemed the right way to enable people to achieve something solid at a time when frivolous spirituality is mushrooming."

Registration for all sessions is free. Those who are interested may email mlbd@mlbd.com or call 080-30611390.